A Few More Birds from Slimbridge

A few more birds seen on our RPS trip to Slimbridge. The light was very dull so not a great deal of 'life' in the photos but great to see up to 10 Cranes all together down on the banks of the Severn and flying. They have had a very successful year breeding-wise here. Lots of passage migrants on South Lake including Black-tailed Godwits and also parties of Avocets and Lapwings stirring up the mud. The ducks are in eclipse still but recognisable Shovellers looking as grumpy as usual and Teal.

 

Birds at Summer Leys Northamptonshire

Great to see a large number and variety of water birds at Summer Leys Reserve today including several Great White Egrets, four Snipe, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, large flocks of Lapwing as well as hundreds of ducks, and  lots of Heron, Grebes, Little Egrets etc.

Summer Leys Stonechats, Little Grebes etc

A day of difficult light for photography but lots of birds and action to enjoy with RPS Nature Group friends at Summer Leys reserve. The weather was very variable with rain, bright sunny intervals and occasional thick cloud giving a real challenge for photography. A pair of Stonechats and athreesome of Little Grebes kept us entertained from one of the hides with the Stonechats coming close at times and the Little Grebes generally hiding in the reeds but with one clear view. I photographed a flock of Lapwing and amongst them birds that  appear to be Short-eared Owls (there is a site fairly close and birds were being driven off by the rising flood waters) now identified as Golden Plovers. Very high ISOs so not great quality for images

Rutland Water Walk 2. Other Birds

The variety of birds that we saw at Rutland was great but the viewing distance and photographing into the sun for most shots means they definitely come into the 'for ID and Memories' category only. The Osprey(s) kept us entertained most of the day, soaring and hovering in the distance while Kestrel and Marsh harrier also hunted in the distance plus the usual wetland species.

Welney Morning Birds

We spent the rest of Sunday morning (after a breakfast in the cafe!!), general bird watching and 'snapping' on the main reserve so here a flavour of the session and including Cattle Egret and ?Chiffchaff (a pair were flitting in the bushes - presumably overwintered in UK).